Conference Session

Impact of Information Technology on Engineering Education (3215)

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Tahar El-Korchi, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Paul P. Mathisen, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Frederick L. Hart, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering (CE)

for engineers entering the workforce. Therefore, to introduce students in civiland environmental engineering to these components as early as possible in the program, the CEEDepartment developed a freshman level introductory civil engineering class entitled“Introduction to Civil Engineering and Computer Fundamentals”. 2 3 The primary objectives ofthis course are (1) to provide students with a technical background in computer use, (2) tointroduce students to the technical fundamentals of the various disciplines in civil andenvironmental engineering, and (3) to provide students with written and oral communicationskills that will better prepare them for giving presentations and writing professional reports. Anumber of studies have shown that

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Douglas G. Schmucker

significantly inspired by the T4E teaching model, which was developed at theUSMA and at whose NSF-sponsored short course the author attended.Student data both before and after the implementation are included along with faculty assessments. Comments fromother assistant professors who have implemented various aspects of the model are also included as are the author'sanecdotes. In the three semesters of implementation, the author has observed improved student performance asmeasured by written exams in addition to positive student and peer evaluations.1. IntroductionOne challenge faced by the author since entering the engineering education profession has beenlearning how to use the lesson time as a catalyst for student learning rather than simply a time

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Marilyn Dyrud

. Develop list of options (Be imaginative; avoid the “yes/no” dilemma; focus on who to talk to, what to say.)5. Test options, using the following: Harm: Does this option do less harm than an alternative? Publicity: Would I want my decision published in the newspaper? Defensibility: Could I defend my decision before a Congressional committee or a committee of my peers? Reversibility: Would I still think this decision good if I were one of those adversely affected by it? Colleague: What do my colleagues say when I describe my problem and suggest this as my solution? Professional: What might my profession’s governing body or ethics committee say about this choice? Organization: What does the

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Eric W. Tisdale

parameters as calculated in typical homework problems. ElectronicWorkbench displays parameters as shown on laboratory equipment.Comparison of the answers is still a problem for the student. The homework, simulators, andequipment in the laboratory all display answers in a different format. An ability to write the Page 3.236.2parameter displayed on an oscilloscope as a mathematical term consistent with a homeworkcircuit problem solution is a course objective. Communication requires that a representativenumber is found for each parameter of a circuit. Both of these simulators are valuable in thecalculations / laboratory / parameters education

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Hamid Khan

-SURVEY - RANK ORDER OF IMPORTANCE (N=78)IMPPREX DESCRIPTION MEAN SDIMPRE6 Building trust with peers, superiors 4.50 .55IMPRE25 Establishing priorities, setting goals 4.46 .66IMPRE31 Writing: expressing ideas correctly 4.42 .79IMPRE41 Understanding clientele (customer) needs 4.42 .88IMPRE12 Budgeting my work time 4.39 .69IMPRE2 Having Flexibility: Varying behavior 4.37 .77IMPRE42 Making oral presentations: impact 4.36 .99IMPRE8 Taking initiative to assume responsibility 4.31 .61IMPRE1 Directing program/project implementation 4.29 1.08IMPRE19 Delegating,coaching,providing follow-up 4.27 1.00(b) PARTICIPANTS PRE

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Rob Wolter; Cliff Goodwin

thePurdue School of Engineering and Technology and were coached and facilitated by the professor.The professor supervised the research and writing of this paper. The student learning teamprovided distribution and pick-up of the survey and Scantron© answer forms to all of theschool’s departments. Survey answer forms were tabulated, and statistical analysis performed,by the Integrated Technologies Department of the universityDefinition of student work groups/teams Page 3.520.1 Well-structured student work groups/teams are very similar to high performance teamsfound in business and industry. Katzenbach and Smith surveyed industry and found that

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Dava J. Newman; Amir R. Amir

. It was found that the best utilization of the computer classroomwas to present the history lecture based on mostly pictorial information and the human poweredflight aircraft lecture that included photographs and models of aircraft. This lecture was presentedin a slide format on the computer so that students could proceed at their own pace. The computerclassroom was also used for Web tutorials. Note-taking for students in the electronic classrooms proves to be difficult. Since most of thedesk space is taken up by the computer and the area for the mouse, writing on paper was some-what cumbersome. Current Web browsers do not offer a solution for taking notes by hand in addi-tion to interacting with the computer. Simultaneous use of a text

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Larry Hoffman; Kevin D. Taylor; Russell A. Aubrey

development, university and departmental idiosyncrasies, professional development, and various practical issues.The SUNY Albany program was deemed a success. It was particularly helpful for young facultyjust starting their academic careers. Mentors and protégés agreed that there is need for basicstructure, content, and guidelines for the dyad meetings. Mentors and protégés were pleasedwith assigned mentors as long as the assignments were made according to similarity of interests.Elmes-Crahall (2) writes about the Wilkes University voluntary mentoring program for newfaculty. It consists of inviting experienced faculty members to volunteer to serve as mentors andthen providing a list of the volunteers to new faculty members who are responsible to

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Dominique McMillan

. It is a program of the University of California. MESA is an academically-based programthat provides a rigorous, all-sided learning environment. This includes MESA classes, academicadvising, peer group learning, career exploration, parent involvement and other services forstudents from elementary through college level. BACKGROUNDFounded in 1947, Cal State L.A. is one of 20 campuses comprising the California State UniversitySystem. Cal State L.A. is a comprehensive university dedicated primarily to undergraduateeducation and offering more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in academic andprofessional fields. With a student population that is 10 percent African-American, 48 percentHispanic

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Melody Ivory; Kathleen Luker; Kathleen Coppock; Erol Tutumluer; David Hill; Christine Masters; Amelia Regan; Alkim Akyurtlu; Eric Matsumoto; Sandra Shaw Courter; Sarah Pfatteicher

and learning strategies, small group/cooperative learning, and professionaldevelopment. Seven cases are presented to illustrate how participants have made substantialprogress in their understanding of important areas of pedagogy. These cases also demonstratehow this learning has translated into confidence in implementing fresh—and often successful—approaches in the classroom. Participants additionally credit EESP with an early opportunity to“learn the ropes” of the academic career, including valuable insight into the hiring process,mentoring, promotion and tenure, and writing grant proposals. The positive impact of EESP hasmotivated NSF and others to spread EESP around the country to benefit larger numbers of futurefaculty members. Lessons

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Lynn Bellamy; Barry McNeill

design, build, and test a device orally report to peers and class read and summarize textbooks

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

J.P. Agrawal; Omer Farook; Chandra R. Sekhar

2 hoursScheduling 4 hoursComponent procurement and project inventory techniques 4 hoursDesign review and reliability analysis 2 hoursValue engineering and ergonomic issues 2 hoursCosting 4 hoursProject ethics 2 hoursTotal quality control 4 hours Page 3.540.3Report writing 2

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

William R. McShane; Joanne Ingham

on long-term overallperformance standards rather than focusing on comparison to peer performance, assistingstudents in identifying strengths and unique accomplishments and providing opportunities forgroup support with others experiencing academic difficulty. In addition, it was recommendedthat opportunities be provided within programs that complement the individual’s preferredlearning styles (Marsh & Craven, 1997). A number of researchers have examined metacognitive approaches using awareness ofindividual student learning styles as the focus for increasing levels of academic achievement,retention and academic self-concept (Lenehan, Dunn, Ingham, Signer & Murray, 1994; Nelson,Dunn, Griggs, Primavera, Fitzpatrick & Miller

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Zbigniew Prusak

precedinggenerations. In order to improve quality of life and increase work productivity, previous generationshave created a ‘throw away society’, a complex, yet easy-to-use equipment, devices that are difficultto disassemble and too costly to repair. As compared to peers of twenty years ago, not manyteenagers of today have repaired their own bicycle or watched a parent repairing a toy or a kitchenappliance. How many have repaired a car or measured pieces for precision fit while rebuilding anengine? These activities became substituted by computer games, hence many manual and simpletechnical skills do not have a chance to be developed. On the other hand, in today’s developedeconomies, people who are competent in high-tech areas and possess interdisciplinary

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

M. R. Foster; H. Öz

, in agreement with what the Provost of the university has suggested. Such a number is also consistent with the results of a survey of the numbers of hours to graduation for aerospace programs at peer universities.• No student should be enrolled in more than 4 courses total in any quarter.• The senior year should allow students to explore their own interests through a set of electives.III. The Structure of the New CurriculumUltimately, we came to the structure shown graphically in Figure 1, with a tabular listing ofcourses in Table 1. Much of the first year and part of the second are taken up with science andmathematics, with some specific engineering core material on statics, dynamics, materials andstrength of materials in the

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Michael D. Murphy; Kristen L. Wood; Kevin Otto; Joseph Bezdek; Daniel Jensen

encouraged to pick a product that interests them insome way (e.g., refer to Fig. 2). Whether it be a device that they use regularly but neverperforms to their satisfaction, or simply a device they have always been intrigued with but hadnever had the opportunity or time to investigate, the important thing is that they want to reverseengineer the product. This investigation of an interesting product is the focus of the first projectand is captured by the sub-title above: “Something you’ve always wanted to do but never had thetime...” The students should be encouraged to find a product that they truly want to analyze andunderstand. After all, the team will be writing their first and third reports on the device theychoose; it is not a decision to be

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Edward N. Prather; Raymond B. Landis

exercise during class in which you ask students to identify key areas aboutwhich their attitudes (positive or negative) are likely to have an impact on their academicsuccess. During this brainstorming session, write all responses on the blackboard. Feel free toadd a few of your own.Step 2. Pick 8-10 of the areas listed, and as a homework assignment have each student writedown three positive attitudes and three negative attitudes they have about each area.Step 3. During the class period in which the homework assignment is due, have volunteers sharenegative attitudes they have about each of the areas. Ask each respondent to answer the Page

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Roger Ware; Charles F. Yokomoto

up a missedclass by writing a research paper on a topic of interest to the class. An individually written essayexam is given as a final exam that contributes to approximately 20% of the course grade.Prior to the final exam, each student’s grade is normally in the “B” to “A-” range because of thedependence on team grades and a liberal grading policy. Thus the final exam, with its 20%weight, can increase this spread from “C” to “A”. Assessment of Student Satisfaction and Opinions Student satisfaction with course over its two most recent offerings has been assessed, andthe results are presented here. Three areas have been assessed: (1) satisfaction with the course,(2) rating the reading assignments, and (3) rating

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Fathi Finaish

thesophomore year. This component is designed to extend learning opportunities that apply thefundamentals of design along with hands-on experiences. The students are required to analyzeand solve open-ended design problems, test and experiment with different concepts, and useengineering process skills such as teamwork and development of technical reports. An emphasisis placed on the connection between theory and design applications, comparisons of analyticalwork with test results, reporting, and working with peers. Details on this effort and organizationof the developed material are given.IntroductionIn recent years, there has been remarkable changes in methodologies by which aerospacecompanies develop their products. As a result, the length of

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Robert Rippy; Jason Dutcher; Jang Yi; Baber Raza; Herbert Hess

support videotaped engineering extension courses, providing an interactivelaboratory setup students may control from a remote site. LabView provides theinstrumentation display and command interface. The Internet provides access and real timedisplay of audio and video display features. Prototype is complete and operating on the Internet.Introduction The University of Idaho provides off-campus students with courses on videotapessupplemented with access to an instructor by telephone, fax, and email. These students can takeclasses for a quite attractive price. Though unable to attend in person, by videotape they sitalongside their peers on campus. Now in its twenty-third year, Engineering Video Outreachkeeps each of three studios booked for over

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Cliff J. Schexnayder; Avi Wiezel

, there has been a proliferation of multimedia technologies forteaching at various academic levels. MM with its digital transformation and control ofmultiple modes such as voice, music, sound effects, printed text, still images, video, andanimation can be very attractive to students. There are real advantages when teachers useMM tools as part of an education delivery system.1. Reliable access and recall of information stored in the computer rather than having to write on a chalk board.2. Adding, editing, and updating of lecture material is quick and easy, whether the material is text, video clips, or still images.3. Instructor designed MM educational applications are tailored for the specific purpose and do not include irrelevant

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Matt W. Mutka; Betty H. C. Cheng; Diane Rover

-riculum in digital system design. In the introductory digital logic fundamentals course,students are motivated to appreciate the role of digital logic in their daily life through agroup assignment to identify a product or process driven by digital logic (e.g., traffic lights,digital camera, calculator, microwave oven, etc.). They select, investigate, and discuss aproduct and write a web-based, electronic essay. Thus, while students are learning the ba-sics, they begin to see the relevance in something tangible. It raises their awareness aboutcomputer-based systems as well as raises their curiosity. Heightened student interest im-proves learning of the fundamentals and provides a basis for subsequent courses in digitalsystem design

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Lia F. Arthur; Irem Y. Tumer

the supervision of a mentor,who provides guidance and critique to the doctoral students1,9. These programs, while rare, arestarting to attract a lot of attention among academia-track students and concerned faculty.The idea of team-teaching is slightly different than faculty mentoring. Specifically, in team-teaching a course, the doctoral students get an opportunity to work along with the facultymember in addressing all aspects of the course, hence being treated as a peer, instead of having amentor-student relationship. The main advantage of team-teaching is that both the student andthe faculty get to lecture as equals, thereby achieving two goals: (1) providing the undergraduatestudents with two different views on the lecture topics; and, (2

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Fiona S. Crofton; Cynthia A. Mitchell

, colleagues and peers? Are theybeyond reproach? In our view, bad practice in the context of this paper is that which perpetuatesthe technical rationality myth and not only ignores, but also discounts the existence of any othermodus operandi. We also consider poor models to be those who perform actions which areincompatible with substantive and process principles of sustainability. We have no intention ofidentifying particular individuals; instead we include some stories and a series of untraceableanecdotes and we are sure you could add some from your own experience. When asking for feedback on preparations for an interactive session with chemical and environmental undergraduate engineering students on professional ethics, the lecturer was

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Melissa S. Goldsipe; Martha J.M. Wells; Harsha N. Mookherjee; Dennis B. George; Arthur C. Goldsipe

measures that will be used todetermine the effectiveness of the engineering program include more than merely engineeringdesign and ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering. Engineeringprograms must demonstrate that their graduates have & an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams, & an ability to communicate effectively, and & the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.These outcomes reflect the student’s ability to communicate engineering and scientific principlesand concepts to his or her peers and to appreciate the perspective and knowledge otherdisciplines offer to solve societal

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Andrew S. Crawford

that a specific developmental opportunity or experience requires of them as well as thosethat will be most effective. This can be facilitated through discussion and feedback with anothersuch as a professor, advisor, or peer and/or be self-driven.Self-Situation Skill Match: Students need to be able to assess how their personal skills and abilitiesmatch with the skills required by a specific or selected opportunity or experience. This can befacilitated by another such as a professor, advisor, or peer and/or be self-driven.Skill Acquisition: When students become aware of the personal skills that they need to develop orenhance, they need to have opportunities and encouragement to acquire them. Optimally theseopportunities should incorporate and

Collection

1998 Annual Conference

Authors

Randall A. Yoshisato

allthe information and the power. As the relationship matures it will become more reciprocal andmutual as the advisor helps the student become an engineer and the student will in turn help theadvisor become a better teacher and mentor. As the years go by, the advisor/advisee relationshipwill give way to one of mutual respect as peers and professionals. Hopefully, the relationshipestablished in college will be a lifelong one where the engineering alumnus can work inpartnership with the former advisor and teacher to help train subsequent generations of engineers.High quality advising and the relationships that will result can make a significant improvement inthe life of each student. The student will better informed on their career options, the